Arizona appeals court rules that Steve Nash must pay more child support

March 27, 2014

Arizona appeals court rules that Steve Nash must pay more child support

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The Arizona Court of Appeals recently issued a ruling in a child support case involving NBA star Steve Nash, who played several seasons for the Phoenix Suns. Nash, who was divorced from Alejandra Nash in 2011, learned that his monthly child support payments would increase - despite the fact that he had provided a multi-million dollar cash settlement at the time of the divorce.

While the lower court had restricted the child support payments to an amount necessary to cover the "basic needs" of the children, the appeals court considered also the "reasonable benefits" enjoyed by the children during their parents' marriage.

Steve Nash now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, but his former wife and their children still live in Phoenix, and all court proceedings related to the divorce have been conducted in Arizona.

Court says child support should not be limited to amount required to meet "basic needs" of children

The couple married in 2005. Twin daughters were born in 2004 and a son in 2010. When they divorced in 2011, Steve Nash provided a settlement amount reported by the Arizona Republic to be approximately $5 million.

Nevertheless, his former wife launched a legal action requesting child support of $22,500 per month. The trial court ruled against her, stating that "the basic needs of the children" were already being met.

However, the appeals court explicitly rejected the legal reasoning of the lower court. In their ruling, the judges explain that satisfying the "basic needs" of the children of the marriage is not the only criterion for determining child support in a situation where both parents are undeniably wealthy.

In such circumstances, the ruling states, the courts should also consider the "reasonable benefits" of the privileged lifestyle that the children experienced while their parents were still married. In this context, the judges mention as an example the numerous opportunities for international travel that the Nash children enjoyed during their parents' marriage.

On the basis of this analysis, the appeals court ordered the trial court to reassess the amount of child support that Steve Nash would be required to pay his former wife.

Case settled quietly by parties

According to a report on Fox Sports, the couple subsequently settled their protracted dispute over child support quietly. A Maricopa County judge signed an order accepting their settlement agreement.

Because the judge also sealed the settlement, the precise amount of child support now being paid by the basketball star is unknown.

Any parent dealing with issues involving child support should seek the assistance of an experienced family law attorney. As this case demonstrates, statutory interpretation and judicial reasoning can evolve over time. A lawyer with relevant expertise will provide timely advice based on the unique facts of each case and a thorough understanding of the current legal context.